IntroductionThe
DV-38A is Pioneer’s eagerly anticipated top of the line progressive
video DVD player. The DV-38A retails for $2,000, is THX Ultra Certified
and supports both DVD-Video and DVD-Audio formats. With all of the hype
of new formats swirling in the audio/video magazines, the DV-38A
arrives just in time for those looking for an upgrade in sound and
picture.

Upon unpacking the DV-38A, I found it to be
finished in the traditional Pioneer Elite manner, with a polished black
face with gold details and attractively finished wood side panels. The
face plate, in addition to the drawer assembly, contains a small number
of indicator lights, including one that has a cool blue light for
illumination, and minimal operating controls. This give the unit an
attractively clean, functional look.

The DV-38A weighs in at a fairly hefty 22 pounds. The construction of
the unit is very solid, utlizing a triple-layered chassis and three
chambers to isolate the various internal sections. The copper used for
the isolation material adds to the unit’s rigidity, as well as
isolating potential interference between different sections of the
player.

However, Pioneer has elected not to incorporate the very cool air
chamber train assembly from their former top of the line DVD player,
the DV-09, into the new unit. The DV-38A’s tray assembly is a damped
assembly, which emerges from behind a drop-down door but is not nearly
as cool as the DV-09 assembly.

The DV-38A is full of features to maximize its performance, both audio
and video. On the audio side, the DV-38A supports CD, CDR, DVD and
DVD-A formats. The unit includes Dolby Digital, DTS and MPEG decoders,
allowing the digital output to be completely bypassed. The internal
digital-to-analog conversion process incorporates Pioneer’s Hi-Bit
Legato Link conversion, Dual Analog Devices 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC’s on
the front left and right channels, and Analog Devices 96 kHz, 24-bit
DAC’s on the remaining channels. The digital outputs support Dolby
Digital and DTS and are 96kHz, 24-bit capable.

The video performance features are too numerous to list in their
entirety. Below is just a sampling. Most notably, the DV-38A is capable
of producing a progressive scan output through its PureCinema, 10-bit,
54 MHz processing system with 3:2 pulldown. The player is capable of
passing a below-black signal, useful for calibration and has more
adjustments for noise reduction, sharpness, color, hue, brightness,
etc. than most users could ever hope to figure out. While many of these
controls will go unused by the majority of purchasers, they can prove
invaluable to the trained installer in obtaining the best picture
possible.
Two-Channel SetupI
utilized the DV-38A both in a two-channel music system, as well as in
my multi-channel home theater system. My music system includes a Krell
KAV-300IL integrated amplifier, Final 0.3 speakers, B&W CM2
speakers and a Sunfire Signature Subwoofer. In both my music and
theater systems, I also utilize several of ASC’s Studio and Tube traps
to optimize the room acoustics, as well as to experiment with loading
the electrostatic speakers in a horn configuration.
The MusicThe
DV-38A was first placed into my two-channel music system as a CD
player. I have previously used other Pioneer Elite CD players and was
curious as to how the DV-38A would compare. The unit I had received had
already been out on the review circuit for a while, and was
consequently already broken in when I began my review.

I
found my notes from prior listening sessions with Pioneer Elite CD
players, pulled out some of the same discs that I used in the prior
sessions and began to listen. I began with Bill Berry’s For Duke
(Realtime Records). I found the DV-38A to be more detailed than prior
Pioneer units, which is not surprising in light of the dual Analog
Devices 192 kHz, 24-bit DAC’s. I also immediately noted slightly
forward, warm midrange, something I had also noted previously on other
Pioneer Elite digital products. I believe this to be a result of the
Hi-Bit Legato Link. I had previously noted that on "The Busy Child"
track on the Crystal Method album Vegas (Outpost Recordings), the bass
was a bit on the thin side. On the DV-38A, this effect was much less
noticeable, although the bass was still not as solid as when using the
Theta DAC. This detail in the bass was confirmed by listening to Janet
Jackson’s "Go Deep" from the Velvet Rope album (Virgin Records) and
Paula Cole’s "Tiger" on her This Fire album (Warner Brothers), which
regular readers will note is a favorite album here at Audio Revolution
for checking out low-frequency capabilities.

The DV-38A
was able to create a large solid soundstage with good imaging. Voices
and instruments both were portrayed with proper timber and tone to
create a convincing image. While the DV-38A is designed to be utilized
in a multi-channel system with DVD and DVD-Audio material, it is more
than capable as a CD player as well.